Novel Peptides to a Melanoma Antigen and Their Use in Diagnostic and Therapeutic Methods
Posted Aug 03 2010 5:00pm
Description of Invention: Various tumor-associated antigens are recognized by T cells, thereby eliciting an immune response. Among these tumor-associated antigens is gp100, which along with several other tumor antigens identified to date is associated with malignant melanoma. Most of the gp100 peptide epitopes identified to date are HLA-A2 (MHC Class I) restricted.
The current invention embodies the identification of a novel HLA-DRB1*0701 (MHC Class II) restricted epitope of gp100. As 16-28% of the population is HLA-DRB1*0701 positive, this peptide could represent a potential immunotherapeutic vaccine for use against melanoma in a significant percentage of the patient population. In addition, the current invention represents only the second gp100 peptide identified to date that is capable of eliciting a CD4+ helper T cell response. It is believed that administration of a peptide capable of eliciting a CD4+ T cell response may be required in order to upregulate a CD8+ T cell response against a Class I-restricted peptide. The identification of an immunogenic Class II-restricted epitope therefore could be of particular importance not only as an immunotherapeutic vaccine in and of itself, but also for use in a vaccination protocol in combination with an immunogenic Class I-restricted peptide.
Inventors: Patrick Hwu (NCI) Rejean Lapointe (NCI) Steven A Rosenberg (NCI) Maria R Parkhurst (NCI)
Portfolios: Cancer Cancer - Diagnostics Cancer - Therapeutics
For Additional Information Please Contact: Samuel Bish Ph.D. NIH Office of Technology Transfer 6011 Executive Blvd. Suite 325, Rockville, MD 20852 United States Email: bishse@mail.nih.gov Phone: 301-435-5282 Fax: 301-402-0220
Description of Invention:
Various tumor-associated antigens are recognized by T cells, thereby eliciting an immune response. Among these tumor-associated antigens is gp100, which along with several other tumor antigens identified to date is associated with malignant melanoma. Most of the gp100 peptide epitopes identified to date are HLA-A2 (MHC Class I) restricted.
The current invention embodies the identification of a novel HLA-DRB1*0701 (MHC Class II) restricted epitope of gp100. As 16-28% of the population is HLA-DRB1*0701 positive, this peptide could represent a potential immunotherapeutic vaccine for use against melanoma in a significant percentage of the patient population. In addition, the current invention represents only the second gp100 peptide identified to date that is capable of eliciting a CD4+ helper T cell response. It is believed that administration of a peptide capable of eliciting a CD4+ T cell response may be required in order to upregulate a CD8+ T cell response against a Class I-restricted peptide. The identification of an immunogenic Class II-restricted epitope therefore could be of particular importance not only as an immunotherapeutic vaccine in and of itself, but also for use in a vaccination protocol in combination with an immunogenic Class I-restricted peptide.
Inventors:
Patrick Hwu (NCI)
Rejean Lapointe (NCI)
Steven A Rosenberg (NCI)
Maria R Parkhurst (NCI)
Patent Status:
HHS, Reference No. E-086-2001/1
US, , Patent No. 7,419,957, Issued 02 Sep 2008
US, , Patent No. 7,749,967, Issued 06 Jul 2010
US, Application No. 12/782,858 filed 19 May 2010
Licensing Status:
Available for licensing.
Portfolios:
Cancer
Cancer - Diagnostics
Cancer - Therapeutics
For Additional Information Please Contact:
Samuel Bish Ph.D.
NIH Office of Technology Transfer
6011 Executive Blvd. Suite 325,
Rockville, MD 20852
United States
Email: bishse@mail.nih.gov
Phone: 301-435-5282
Fax: 301-402-0220
Ref No: 557
Updated: 08/2010